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the length of a nitrocellulose strip. This enables individual reac- Thus the correlation of "HIV" antibodies with AIDS—which
tions to the 10 or so "HIV" proteins to be visualised as a series of experts accept as the only in vivo proof that HIV causes AIDS—is
darkened "bands". The Western blot test is used to "confirm" not a Statistic related to the natural, unbridled activity of a virus,
repeatedly positive ELISAs because experts agree that the ELISA but is instead a contrivance generated by mankind. Not only does
"overreacts"; that is, it is insufficiently specific.° correlation never prove causation, the artificiality of this particu-
Prior to 1987, one "HIV-specific" WB band was considered lar "correlation" severely compromises its scientific analysis.
proof of HIV infection. However, since 15%-25% of healthy, no- One of the most bizarre aspects of the HIV/AIDS theory is that
risk individuals have "HIV-specific" WB bands,’ '* it became different laboratories, institutions and countries define different
necessary to redefine a positive WB by adding extra and selecting sets of WB bands as a positive test (see chart on previous page).
particular bands, otherwise at least one in every seven people The global variation in interpretive criteria means that in
would be diagnosed as infected with HIV. (Notwithstanding, in Australia, for example, a positive test requires particular sets of
the MACS, one band remained proof of HIV infection in homo- four bands. In the USA, different sets of two or three suffice,
sexual men until 1990.’”) On the other hand, although AIDS in which may or may not include the bands required in Australia. In
Europe and the US began to decline in 1987,'°'*' this trend was Africa, only one designated set of two is required. Put simply,
countered by the addition of more this means that the same person tested
and more diseases and, most recently, . " " in three cities on the same day may
mere laboratory abnormalities'” to Thus the correlation of HIV or may not be HIV-infected.
each revision (1985, 1987, 1993) of antibodies with AlDS—which If the diagnosis of HIV infection
the first, 1982 CDC definition. . . were a game of poker, a flush would
The net effect of these changes was experts accept as the only in vivo require five cards the same suit in
onan a correlation ence proof that HIV causes AIDS one country, but only one or two
antibodies and elsewhere. A virus cannot behave in
amongst the "risk" groups, while the is nota statistic related to the this manner, but according to the
risk of an HIV/AIDS diagnosis out- . Pa HIV test, which is claimed to have a
side these groups remained slight. natural, unbridled activity of a specificity of 99.999%,"™ it does. As
This was further accentuated by | virus but is instead a contrivance incomprehensible as this appears,
avoiding testing outside the risk . further difficulties remain. For
groups. However, when such studies generated by mankind. example, an Australian tested in
were performed amongst 89,547 Australia with one or two "HIV-
anonymously tested blood specimens specific" bands would not be report-
from 26 US hospital patients meticulously chosen to be at no risk ed as HIV-infected.'” Clearly, however, there must be a reason
of AIDS, 0.7% -21.7% of men and 0.0%-7.8% of women aged 25 why an uninfected individual, such as a healthy blood donor or
to 44 years were found to be HIV-WB-positive.'* (It is estimated military recruit, can possess any, even one, "HIV-specific" band.
that approximately 1% of men are homosexual. Also, at the five According to the experts, these bands are caused by cross-
hospitals with the highest rates of HIV antibodies, one third of reacting, that is, "false", "non-HIV" antibodies which react with
positive tests were in women. Yet men vastly outnumber women the "HIV" proteins. Thus it is axiomatic that an antibody which
as AIDS patients.) reacts with a particular protein is not necessarily an antibody
In addition, the US Consortium for Retrovirus Serology which the immune system has generated specifically in response
Standardization reported that 127 (10%) of 1,306 individuals at to that protein.
"low risk" for AIDS, including "specimens from blood donor cen- The Australian National HIV Reference Laboratory (NRL) con-
ters", had a positive HIV antibody test by the "most stringent" US cedes that "False reactivity may be to one or more [HIV] protein
WB criteria.'” bands and is common (20%-25% of anti-HIV-negative blood
Endnotes ances are repeatedly the same.) Asked at the ers accepted the bulk of the scientific arguments
© In most countries, including Australia, individ- 1998 Geneva AIDS Conference to comment on and found the paper "interesting reading", they
uals with two positive ELISAs have HIV infection _ the UK dropping the Western blot test, Gallo advised against publication because, in their
"confirmed" by performing a Western blot test. remarked: "Well, the bulk of the world uses it. view, an analysis of evidence for the isolation of
However, this testing algorithm selects individu- _!f some technology comes across better, I'd be HIV was of "no real relevance...to a surgical
als who have a higher rate of cross-reacting anti- _ the first to say ‘do it’. | mean, obviously, the audience" or "would be of little interest or use to
bodies and are therefore more likely to react in Western blot's a valuable test as defining the the majority of readers of the Australian and
the Western blot test. (This is analogous to proteins that you have antibodies to. Everybody = New Zealand Journal of Surgery".
determining the number of heart attacks in the uses it experimentally and most people use it
community by performing ECGs only on patients around the world... Britain doesn't use it. 000 Of the cumulative 7,766 Australian AIDS
with chest pain—an experiment which grossly Maybe there are two countries that have founda _cases to date, 387 (5%) are reported in the
underestimates the real number because many better way. God bless them. Okay?" "Heterosexual contact" exposure category.
heart attacks are "silent".) On the other hand, However, 22 of these qualify on the basis of "Sex
England and Wales do not use the HIV WB to 00 In 1997, the Perth group attempted a second _ with injecting drug user", "Sex with bisexual
"confirm" reactive HIV ELISAs because Dr Philip __ time to engage the Royal Australasian College of — male", "From high prevalence country" (where
Mortimer, Director of the UK Public Health Surgeons (RACS) in debating the HIV/AIDS con- heterosexual spread is deemed dominant), "Sex
Laboratory Service, claims that "truly positive" troversy by submitting a paper entitled "A critical | with HIV-infected person, exposure not speci-
antibodies are "easily" detected "because these analysis of the evidence for the isolation of HIV" _ fied", or "Not further specified".'” Thus, inject-
are reactive in all ["methodologically different (see website